Head of Programme Management Office

Ekhuft; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 94,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Permanent contract

Job summary

Ekhuft in Canterbury is seeking a Head of PMO (Grade Band 8d) to lead the Programme Management Office across the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programme and wider financial improvement portfolio. This permanent role reports to the Director of Financial Sustainability and drives strategic delivery of major initiatives with robust governance and assurance.

You will collaborate with executive sponsors, care groups and corporate services to shape financial sustainability plans, develop PMO standards and

Qualifications

• Educated to Master’s degree level with senior leadership in programme/portfolio management.
• Recognised qualifications in programme/change management (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, MoP, APM, Lean, Six Sigma).

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and oversee the Trust's PMO function to deliver a high-quality programme, project and portfolio management service.
• Establish PMO operating model and governance frameworks across the organisation.
• Develop and maintain standards, policies, methodologies and assurance frameworks.
• Provide independent assurance on delivery, risks, issues, dependencies and benefits.
• Support financial improvement and cost reduction initiatives with robust governance.

Skills

Strategic PMO leadership

Programme management

Financial improvement

Governance and assurance

Stakeholder engagement

Change leadership

Education

Master’s degree

PRINCE2/MSP/APM/Lean/Six Sigma qualifications

Tools

PMO operating model

Job description

Main area Programme Management Office Grade Band 8d Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (May be required to work from all East Kent Hospitals locations) Job ref 344-4618COR

Site Kent and Canterbury Hospital Town Canterbury Salary £94,356 - £108,814 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 12/11/2026 08:00

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a high-profile function at the heart of the Trust’s financial sustainability and transformation agenda. Reporting to the Director of Financial Sustainability, the Head of PMO will provide strategic leadership across the Trust’s Cost Improvement Programme (CIP), wider financial improvement portfolio and PMO function, ensuring robust governance, assurance and delivery of major improvement initiatives.

Working closely with Executive Sponsors, Care Group leadership teams, clinicians and Corporate services, and our Subsidiaries, the postholder will play a key role in shaping and delivering the Trust’s approach to financial improvement, productivity and transformation. The role offers the opportunity to influence organisational strategy, lead complex cross-cutting programmes and further develop the Trust’s PMO capability.

Main duties of the job

As an experienced delivery leader, you will provide leadership in programme management and ensure best practice assurance standards are applied to successfully deliver both cost and wider improvement initiatives. Further you will act as a central point for problem solving key issues across the organisation that are blocking delivery through the use of structured methods and your own personal influence.

Such methods include establishing and maintaining robust programme management processes (including reporting), supporting key governance forums, facilitating the resolution of strategic issues and interdependencies and providing flexible targeted support to facilitate delivery. The Team is expected to challenge, review and support Managers and Clinicians and be able to influence senior colleagues within the organisation.

Sound financial literacy is an important part of the role and the Head of PMO will be expected to make a positive contribution to the analysis, development and delivery of financial sustainability plans. You will develop close and effective ways of working with other Finance Teams, confidently reflect cost improvement performance in senior governance forums and support the Trust to create a pipeline of realistic and impactful future efficiency opportunities.

Working for our organisation

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference’. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

Strategic PMO and Portfolio Leadership

• Lead, develop and oversee the Trust's PMO function, ensuring delivery of a high-quality programme, project and portfolio management service.
• Establish and maintain an effective PMO operating model that supports organisational priorities, strategic objectives and financial sustainability.
• Develop and maintain programme, project and portfolio management standards, policies, methodologies and assurance frameworks across the organisation and ensure consistent application.

Governance, Assurance and Performance Management

• Lead the development and implementation of robust governance, assurance and performance monitoring frameworks across the programme portfolio.
• Provide independent assurance regarding programme delivery confidence, risks, issues, dependencies, benefits and overall portfolio performance.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to Care Groups, Executive Sponsors, Financial Recovery Board, Sub-Committees and other governance forums.
• Provide assurance regarding the effectiveness and deliverability of the Trust's Cost Improvement Programme and associated improvement initiatives, recommending escalation, intervention or corrective action where delivery is at risk.
• Ensure risks are identified, monitored and managed appropriately, supporting organisational decision‑making.

Financial Improvement and Benefits Realisation

• Lead the implementation of a comprehensive benefits realisation framework, ensuring systematic tracking, validation and reporting of benefits.
• Work closely with Finance colleagues to ensure financial benefits are demonstrable, sustainable and reflected within agreed financial reports.
• Support delivery of the Trust's financial recovery, productivity and sustainability objectives through robust programme governance, performance management and benefits realisation.
• Provide assurance that programmes deliver improvements without compromising quality, safety, workforce well‑being or patient outcomes.

PMO Leadership and Organisational Capability

• Lead, motivate and develop the PMO team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and professional excellence.
• Hold responsibility for PMO workforce planning, resource management and budget oversight.
• Develop organisational capability in programme and project management through implementation of standards, guidance, training and coaching.
• Promote best practice, innovation and learning across the organisation through effective knowledge management and lessons‑learnt processes.
• Ensure PMO systems, tools and reporting mechanisms remain fit for purpose and support effective portfolio management.

Stakeholder Engagement and Influence

• Lead the development of communication and engagement approaches that promote visibility, understanding and ownership of programme delivery, benefits realisation and improvement outcomes
• Act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders on programme governance, delivery and portfolio management matters.
• Influence, negotiate and challenge constructively to improve programme performance and accountability.
• Represent the PMO function at Trust, system, Regional and national forums as required.

Person specification

Qualifications

• Educated to Master's degree level or able to demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge and expertise acquired through senior leadership experience in programme and portfolio management, transformation, financial improvement, business change or a related discipline
• Recognised programme, portfolio, change or improvement management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, MSP, MoP, APM, Lean, Six Sigma) or demonstrable equivalent professional expertise
• Evidence of continuing professional and leadership development.
• Membership of an appropriate professional body relating to programme, portfolio or project management, organisational change, improvement or leadership (e.g. APM, PMI, CMI or equivalent).

Skills and Experience

• Extensive senior leadership experience within a large and complex organisation, with responsibility for financial improvement, transformation, programme management or portfolio leadership.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including experience of financial improvement, benefits realisation and the assessment of programme viability and sustainability.
• Experience of establishing and leading a PMO or comparable portfolio function, including the development of operating models, governance frameworks, assurance arrangements and reporting standards.
• Significant experience of providing independent assurance, constructive challenge and expert advice to Managing Directors, Executive Sponsors, and senior governance forums.
• Demonstrable ability to interpret complex financial, operational and performance information and provide evidence-based recommendations to senior decision‑makers
• Highly developed communication, influencing and presentation skills, including experience of preparing complex information for Executive Sponsors and Board-level audiences.
• Experience of financial recovery, cost improvement and productivity programmes.
• Experience within an NHS, healthcare or similarly complex regulated environment.

Personal and Professional Attributes

• Collaborative and inclusive, with the ability to build trusted relationships across clinical, operational and Corporate teams.
• Demonstrates independence of thought and the confidence to provide constructive challenge at senior level.
• Credible and visible senior leader who creates clarity, accountability and a culture of high performance.
• Resilient, adaptable and able to maintain focus in a demanding environment with competing priorities and organisational uncertainty.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work flexibly in response to organisational priorities and service requirements.
• Ability and willingness to travel between Trust sites and attend external meetings as required.
• Commitment to continuing professional development and mandatory training.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.